Utah forecast: Warm, dry and smoky along Wasatch Front

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Under smoky and sunny skies, northern Utah looked for a dry mid-week forecast with daytime temperatures in the 80s.

The National Weather Service predicted highs in the middle range of the 80s for Wednesday, up a couple degrees from Tuesday's forecast.

With several active wildfires in Utah, and smoke wafting in from a half-dozen more blazes in central Idaho, however, the Wasatch Front's valleys were expected to continue to wear a thick, brownish-gray shroud. The Utah Division of Air Quality began Tuesday with marginal "Green," or satisfactory breathability grades for northern Utah, but late Tuesday morning revised air quality to "Red," or unhealthy for Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Cache, Box Elder, Utah and Tooele counties; only Washington County rated a "good" grade within the Green range, while Uintah County earned a "Yellow," or compromised air quality rating.

A Red air quality alert means people should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion, especially children and older adults and those with lung disease such as asthma.

Southern Utahns, meanwhile, could expect clear and sunny skies with temperatures soaring into the low- to mid-90s.

Salt Lake City's high temperature for Tuesday was forecast at 82 degrees with an 84 expected Wednesday; Ogden looked for 80 and 81 degrees, respectively; Provo 84 and 85; Logan 82 and 83; Wendover 82 and 84; Duchesne 77 and 78; Cedar City 81 and 83; St. George 93 and 95; and Moab 85 and 87 degrees.

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